Gas gravitometer



Feb. 1, 1938. G. s. BINCKLEY GAS GRAVITOMETER Filed May 6, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l I N V EN TOR 650 265 5 fi/A c/a [x A TTORNEY Feb. I, 1938. s. s. IBINCKLEY 7 2,105,966,

GAS GRAVI TOMETER Filed May 6, 1955 2 Sheets-Shget 2 INVENTOR,- 65066: 5 fi/Nc/afij BY ATTORNEY.)

Patented Feb. 1, 1938 uNrreo STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to gas gravitometers. Particularly, the invention has to do with determining the specific gravity of gases and the invention contemplates a direct weighing instru- 5 ment adapted to produce a highly accurate, temperature-compensated record of the specific gravity of the gas or gases.

The invention, as will hereinafter appear, is so constructed that electric motors, pressure regulating valves, and other mechanical complexities are eliminated. The invention is so constructed and arranged that when it is once calibrated and properly installed, no further attention is required except that attention which is necessary to cause proper operation of the device, such as changing a chart, supplying ink to the recording pen, and the like.

Briefly stated, the invention operates on the principle of Weighing the difference between a column of gas and a column of equal height of air; the difference in weight between the two columns is the measure of the force necessary to operate certain instrumentalities which, in turn, allows pen mechanism to move over a chart in direct ratio to the specific gravity of the gas sample. The record made reads directly to the second, and by easy and close approximation to the third place of decimals.

The parts, members and features of the invention are arranged to minimize friction, all to the end that the instrument is responsive to minute variations in the specific gravity of the sample, and durability of the instrument is practically without limit. Furthermore, the instrument is silent, simple and compact.

In accordance with the above statements, an object of this invention is to provide means whereby the specific gravity of a small continuously flowing sample of gas is automatically recorded on a chart and indicated at all times by the position of the recording pen or stylus on the surface of the chart.

Another object of the invention consists in providing an instrument wherein variations in barometric pressure are automatically compensated, to the end that accuracy of the record of specific gravity of the gas sample is not affected by pressure change.

The invention contemplates among other obe jects a device which is positive in operation, ac-

curate, with few parts liable to get out of order,

which may be readily repaired where necessary, and generally superior to devices now known to the inventor.

' With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel and useful provision, formation, construction, association, and relative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as described generally in the specification, shown. in the drawings, and finally set forth as to specific detail in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic, partially sectioned lay-out of the device of this invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevation on an enlarged scale from the showing of Figure 1 and showing certain details of members of the invention,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of certain means used in balancing the instrument,

Figure 4 is an enlarged view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged View, partially in section, of a pivot means utilized in the invention, and,

Figure 6 is a sectional view revolved from the showing of Figure 5.

In order to gain a proper understanding of the invention, reference will be made to the figures of the drawings with the idea of designat- 25 ing the parts thereof to the end that the state-. ment of operation of the invention will be fully understood.

Referring to Figure 1, the line i is the base to which may be secured a pedestal 2. This pedestal in turn, and adjacent the uppermost extremity thereof, is so formed as to receive the knife edges 3 of .a lever 4. One extremity 5 of the lever 4 has swingingly secured thereto a weight 6 and interposed between the weight 6 and the base I is a coil spring I. The said weight and coil spring I normally urge the lever 4 to rotate in a right-hand direction, viewing Figure 1. The opposite extremity 8 of the lever A has depending therefrom a member 9. The member 9 includes a tube l0 secured by means of a spider or webbing ll to a cap l2. The said cap has the inner wall surface I 3 thereof spaced from the periphery of the tube It and the top of said. cap is likewise spaced from the outermost end of what may be termed the egress end of said tube, as indicated at I4. Thus, any movement of a fluid, such as gas through the tube would occur in one direction between the said 'capand the said tube. The tube 10 has its opposite end received within a jacket-type member l5. The jacket-type member includes in part an elongated tube l6, which will be designated as the gas column tube, and a member l'l having a wall spaced from the periphery of the tube and a base portion joined with said tube. This jacket is adapted to receive a fluid I8 within which the tube l dips. Thus, there is provided what may be termed a liquid seal at this zone.

Itwill be noted that the gas column tube l6 has an elongated portion, and a portion |9 received within the confines of a sealing tank 23.

The sealing tank 20 is in communication with a second tank 2| and both said tanks are adapted to receive a sealing liquid 22 communicating between said tanks. To this end, the tanks are formed with means of communication 23 adjacent the bases thereof. Within thetank 29 is a workingbell 24 and the tank 2| receives therein a balance bell 25. Both bells are in the form of inverted cups in that both said bells include a side wall 26 and a top wall 21 joined with the side wall. This top wall may be domed although, in the present instance, the drawings show the top wall as conical in form. The top wall 21 of the balance bell is provided with an enlarged opening 28 While the top wall 21 of the working bell is closed. It will be observed that both the working bell and balance bell are received within the sealing liquid 22. The working bell and the balance bell are provided with links 29 and 39. These links are mounted at one end to the top walls of the said bells and opposite ends of said links are bored in the form of a knife edge, as

V The beam 32 is carried by means 31'.

'45 engaging said pivots 44.

best illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 at 3|.

3.2 .is a beam and secured thereto are short length blocks 33 and 34. The said blocks carry knife edge bearings or pivots 35 and 36, which in turn engage the knife edges of the links 29 and 39. Pivots 35 and 36 are identical in construction, and the pivot 36 is shown in Figures 5 and 6. It is to .be observed that the pivot 36 is formed in two parts, as shown at 36 and 36 The part 36 is carried upon the reduced portion 36 of the part 36 and a headed bolt 38 is passed through a central bore in the part 36* in such a manner or supporting member (not'shown) A member 43 is provided with bifurcated ends, and between the bifurcations are knife edge pivots 44. The links 38 and 39 both have knife edges The beam 32 is passed through and secured to the member 43 in any approved manner... The member 43 is provided with a transverse enlargement or. boss 46 having'a circular periphery. Adapted for engagement'withthe enlargement 49 is a wing type clamping ring 41. The wing 48 is threaded'and the wing 49 provided with a plain bore to permit g justably slidable thereonis a temperature com- 7 sating device includes a stirrup or U-shaped oar the threaded end of aclamping screw59 to slide therethrough upon rotation of 58. This construction permits the clamping ring-to be adjusted-to various positions relative to the enlargement 46. This clamping ring has depending therefrom a substantially fiat bar "5! and ad'- pensating device 52,'the bar 5| and device 52 constituting a pendulum. The temperature compen 53 provided with astud- 54 havinga transverse opening 55, therein and through which opening the bar 5|"maypass. A locking screw56 carried .in communication with said orifice.

' lever 68, and the extension 6| has secured thereto a member 62 substantially parallel to the lever 60 and in alignment with the bar 5 I. This member 62 is adapted to adjustably support or carry a weight 63. Loosely coiled around the pin 59 is a bi-metal temperature responsive device 64,

one end of which is secured to lever 68 and the,

opposite end to a block 65, which block in turn is secured to the end 58 of the U-shaped member 53. It is evident that changes in temperature will affect the coils of the oi-metal temperature re- Between ends 51 and 58 of'the mem sponsive device to rotate the lever 60 in one of two directions.

Secured to the clamping ring 41 is a rod 66 and adjustably movable upon said rod is a weight-61L It is evident from the description sofar given thatthe beam 32 may tip on the two fulcrums constituting the two knife edge members shown at 44 and ,45 when the bells 24 and 25 are relatively moved. In order to properly balance the beam, I have screw-threaded both ends of 'said beam at 6B and 69 and provided weights l0 and H for engagement with said screw-threads. Thus, the

beam may 'be balanced by shifting the weights relative to the fulcrum points. Interposed between the beam 32 and a lever 12 is a link 13.

The lever 12 in turn operates an arm, pointer, or

recording pen 13 to pass said member 13 over a disc 14, upon which may be placed a calibrated chart. Thus, movement ofthe'beam will cause movement through the link and lever of the member 13'.

secured to the lever 4 is barometric pressure means 15. tube 16, the uppermost end of which is enlarged to provide a normally closed chamber 11 and the lowermost end I8 of which dips within mercury or Said means includes an elongated the equivalent 19'contained within a vessel '80. V

The vessel 89 may be secured to a bracket 8| ex- A link 82 is secured to the chamber portion 1'! and to the said lever 4.

tending from the'pedestal 2.

i A pipe 83 communicates with a source of supply of the gas to be tested and interposed in said pipe is a valve 84, for controlling passage of gas therethrough. Said pipe is provided with an extension 85 received within a vessel 86, the said Vessel normally confining some fluid and the depth of immersion of the extension 85 within said fluid regulating the gas pressurethrough said pipe. This extension is ordinarily known as the drop tube. 7 tube leads to a member 88 provided with'a gas regulatingorifice 89. The member includes a housing 98 which normally confines the gas regulating orifice89 and likewise one end of a pipe 9| The pipe 9| A further extension 81 from said is received within the gas column pipe l6 and;

interior of the Working bell above the normal levelof any fluid contained therein. This tube is provided with an external cap 95. The tube 94 when thecap 95 is removed, permits a gas sample to be taken from the interiorof the bell. It is sometimes important to determine the character 94 is a tube adapted to of the gas sample, in'advance of any actual op-' eration of the device, as to purity and other characteristics.

The operation of the gas gravitometer which is embodied in this invention is based upon the fact that a column of gas which is confined within a tube exerts a pressure on the interior of the tube at any point in its height greater or less than the atmospheric pressure at a corresponding point exterior to the tube, as the specific gravity of the gas is greater or less than unity, dry air being employed as the standard, with a gravity of 1.0.

Within the narrow limits of height employed in practice in the instrument as described, no significant error exists in the assumption that the air-gas pressure differential varies directly as the height of the column.

In operation, the gravitometer being connected with the source of the gas sample, and the interconnected sealing-liquid tanks 28 and 2| being charged with the sealing liquid, gas is admitted through valve 84 to the extent necessary to cause the escape of a small amount of gas through the lower end of the drop tube 85, thissurplus passing to the atmosphere. Gas passing through the tube 81 to the orifice 89 is thus limited in its pressure to thedepth of liquid above the bottom of the drop tube in the vessel 86. Under the pressure thus limited, gas flows through the orifice 89 into the tube 9 l, and between the diffuser discs 92, 93 into the interior of the working bell 24. That part of the interior of the working bell 24 which is above the level of the sealing liquid is thus filled with the gas sample, which then flows under the lower diffuser disc 93 and into the upper end of the tube I9 which surrounds the tube 9i and thence through the gas column tube It to its top and into the atmosphere.

When the interior of the working bell 24, the connecting tubes 83, 85, 81, and the gas column l6 are thus filled with gas, the difierence in pressure of the gas under the head of the working bell 24 and of the atmospheric air on top of this head, will tend to cause the working bell to rise or sink in the sealing liquid 22 as the gas is heavier or lighter than air. The force represented by this difference in pressure, acting upon the cross sectional area of the working bell, is resisted. by the weight 63 of the pendulum, the center of gravity of the weight is in a position Vertically below the fulcrum of the beam 32 when the pressure inside and outside the head of the working bell is equal.

The position of the pendulum and the working bell will vary directly as the variations in pressure inside and outside the working bell, hence the position of the pen or pointer 13' which indicates or records the specific gravity of the gas will, through its connection with the beam 32, vary directly with this pressure variation, and by this means produce a momentary indication or a permanent record of variations in the specific gravity of the gas sample flowing through the gravitometer.

The functions of the balance bell 25 are purely compensatory. By its weight, it balances the weight of the working bell 24 on the beam 32 and neutralizes temperature effects on the length of the two. arms of this beam. Its use minimizes the effects of changes in density of the sealing liquid 22 due to evaporation or variations in temperature, and balances exactly the effects of surfacetension of the sealing liquid on the walls of the bell, and variations in such surface-tension due to changes in temperature. Its interior is freely and permanently in communication with the atmosphere through opening 28, so that its rise and fall with the movement of the working bell is without resistance.

The operation of the instrument as described would be strictly correct and accurate so long as standard conditions of temperature and barometric pressure were maintained, this standard being established for convenience at 60 Fahr. and '30" of mercury. However, if the temperature departs from the standard, the diiference in the increase-or decrease in the unit weight of air and gas, due to this departure, is not in direct proportion to the specific gravity of the gas. If the temperature rises, the relative weight of gas of a given specific gravity becomes less; hence, in

order that the true gravity shall be recorded by the instrument under these conditions, the resistance of the pendulum weight 63 must be decreased in this same proportion. This effect is produced by supporting the pendulum weight on the thermostatic element 64 which may be composed either of straight bi-metallic strips or a helical coil of the same kind of metal, so arranged that with a rise in temperature the center of gravity of the pendulum weight will be brought closer to the fulcrum in direct proportion to the change in the air-gas differential due tothis change in temperature, so that the recorded specific gravity of the gas will be the same, independent of temperature variations where the-barometric pressure remains constant.

Variations in the barometric pressure from the standard of 30" of mercury also have an effect upon the apparent specific gravity of the gas sample, as changes in density of the gas. within the working bell and gas column and the atmospheric air outside cause a change in the apparent specific gravity of the same gas. This effect is relatively unimportant within the normal range of barometric pressure in any one locality but may be recognized where extreme accuracy of the record is demanded, or where it is necessary to shift the instrument 'for service at diiferent altitudes.

In order to eliminate the effects of variations in barometric pressure as a source of possible error in the specific gravity record, I embody in this invention means for automatic correction for variations in barometric pressure.

The upper section 9 of the gas column 16 is suspended from one end of the lever 4 with its lower end immersed in the sealing liquid I 8 in the cup IT. The upper section 9 of the gas column I6 thus hangs without physical contact with the main column, and is free to rise or descend with variations in the position of the end of the lever 4. This lever, which may be supported by any suitable means 3 affording the minimum of frictional resistance to motion, also supports on its same arm the mercury chamber 11 and integral with it the pendant tube 16, the lower end 18 of which is immersed in the mercury 19 in the well or vessel 80. A high degree of vacuum is maintained in the upper part of the mercury chamber 11 so that variations in barometric pressure will cause mercury to flow from the Well 80 into or out of the chamber 11, thus adding to or taking away from the weight suspended on the lever arm. The opposite end of the lever 4 sup-, ports a counter-balance weight 6, which partially balances the weight of the mercury chamber '11 and its contained mercury, and the weight of the upper section 9 of the gas column. The spring 'I has suflicient tension to hold the lever and its appurtenances in such a position that the he'ght of the column will be normal at the standard pressure of 30" of mercury. If the barometric pressure becomes less, the weight of mercury in the chamber 11 decreases, and it, with the col-' umn-section 9, will rise enough to exactly compensate for the effect of decreased pressure on the air-gas differential.

If the. pressure rises, of course the opposite eifect and compensation will be accomplished. By this means, barometric pressure variations have no effect upon the accuracy of the record of specific gravity of the gas passing through the instrument. The calibration of this element of the invention is effected by adjustments in the tension of the spring I.

In order that the operation of this gravitometer shall be as free as possible from friction or other internalresistance, the bells are suspended fromthe beam upon extremely hard steel knifeedge links, and the fulcrum upon which the assembly of bells, pendulum, and temperature compensator rests is also constructed so that this weight is carried on hard steel knife-edges. By this means, minute difierences in specific gravity are accurately indicated and recorded. a

While the former gravitometer shown on the accompanying drawings and described in this specification is one generally applicable, it is obvious'that the same essential elements in this invention may be greatly varied in their arrangement. V

balance bell, a fulcrumedbeam adapted to spacedly carry said bells, a tank for receiving said bells, said tank adapted to'hold a liquid for sealing the space between said tank and said bells, means for-conducting a gas sample within said working bell, and means for conducting said gas sample outwardly from said bell; said balance bell being open to the atmosphere, a pendulum secured to said beam, a lever mounted on said pendulum, a weight'secured to said lever, a thermostat between said weight and the lever, said thermostat being so calibrated that the center of gravity of the weight is shifted in direct ratio to the change in gas-air differential due to agiven temperature variation. r

3. In a gas gravitometer of the character disclosed, a fulcrumed lever; a weight, and a spring anchored at one side of the fulcrum point of said lever, and a barometric pressure compensating element secured to said lever on the opposite side of said fulcrum point, said barometric pressure compensating element comprising a tube having one end'adapted for reception within a vessel holding mercury and its opposite end adjacent V the said lever provided with a closed chamber of greater diameter than the diameter of the tube;

said weight and spring adapted to partially bal-.

ance the weight of any mercury within the closed chamber of the tube to hold the said lever in'such position that the height of the column of mercury will be normal at the standard pressure of 30 inches of mercury.

4-. In a gas gravitometer, a pair, of interconnected tanks adapted to confine a liquid, a pair 7 of inverted bells within said tanks adapted to be surrounded by and have received in part therein said liquid to provide a liquid seal therebetween; means for conducting a gas sample within one of said bells and above the liquid contained therein, said other bell having the space above'the liquid therein open to the atmosphere; a gas column means communicating with the interior of the gas sample receiving bell, a beam carrying the pair of'bells and fulcrumed therebetween and, means secured to said beam for indicating movement thereof; said gas column means including a pair of telescoping tubes provided with a liquid seal therebetween.

' 5. The combination in a recording gas gravitometer having a pair of inverted bells .constituting a working bell and a balance bell, a tank for receiving said bells, the tank holding a liquid for sealing the space between said tank'and bells, a fulcrumed beam adapted to spacedly carry said bells, means for conducting a gas sample within said working bell, and means for conducting said gas sample outwardlyo'f said bell; the said balance bell being opento the. atmosphere, of a pendulum secured to said beam, a'lever mounted on said pendulum, a weight secured to said lever,

a thermostat between said weight and the lever,

said thermostat being so calibrated that the center of'gravity of the weight is shifted in direct ratio to the change in air-gas differential due to a given temperature variation.

GEORGE S. BINCKLEY. 

